Sportfunder allows athletes, sports teams, clubs and events to set up projects to raise funds for a goal by a specific date.

They attract "sponsors" by sharing projects through social media.

Sponsors decide how much they want to contribute to the cause depending on what packages are offered by the project creators.

Taranaki ultra marathoner Tamati is using Sportfunder in an attempt to raise $15,000 for an upcoming 220 kilometre race in Nepal in November.

People have the choice of donating sums ranging from $10 to $4000 for her cause with a range of packages on offer.

For example, if someone donates $4000 to Tamati's cause she will speak at a conference of their choice.

For $50 they receive email updates, a signed photo and DVD.

Williamson said Sportfunder would first focus on Taranaki, then go New Zealand-wide by September, Australia by October and have a global focus by the end of the year.

"I can see this being huge.

"From every angle I think about it I can see huge demand."

New Plymouth design agency Little Rocket created the Sportfunder website and Taranaki businesses were employed at every opportunity throughout the development phase, Williamson said.

Unlike other crowd funding websites, which only see projects get money if they reach their target, Sportfunder lets sponsors decide if they want to support a project regardless of whether it reaches its goal or not.

"If a project doesn't reach its goal not all hope is lost."

Williamson said he would make profit through a 5 per cent commission on every donation made.

"But for the foreseeable future every cent of that will be put into developing and promoting the site."

The website would be advertisement free. "At the end of the day I want to create something which helps sport.

"I know how hard it is to raise funds for an event," he said.

Williamson used the ASP Women's World Surf Tour as an example.

The tour features the top 10 women surfers in the world, some of which have no commercial sponsors yet thousands of fans, he said.